On March 12, several Bangladeshi news outlets published reports claiming that five international human rights organizations had issued a statement calling for the release of the veteran journalist Shahriar Kabir.

Some of the headlines published by the news outlets are as follows:

Bangla Tribune: “International human rights organizations call for the release of Shahriar Kabir”

Dhaka Tribune: “Int’l human rights groups urge Bangladesh to release Shahriar Kabir”

Prothom Alo: “Five international organizations demand the release and medical treatment of Shahriar Kabir”

The Daily Star Bangla: “Global civil society calls for the release of Shahriar Kabir”

The Daily Star (English): “Release Shahriar Kabir immediately: Global civil society orgs appeal to PM”

Samakal: “Global civil society appeals to the prime minister to release Shahriar Kabir”

The Business Standard: “Global civil society groups urge PM Tarique to release Shahriar Kabir”

Bangladesh Post: “Free gravely ill human rights defender Shahriar Kabir, Global Civil Society urges Bangladesh PM”

Views Bangladesh: “International human rights organizations demand the release of writer Shahriar Kabir”

According to the information provided by these media outlets, the five organizations that called for the release of writer and activist Shahriar Kabir are: the Belgium-based South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF), the European Bangladesh Forum (EU and U.K.), Working Group Bangladesh in Germany, Earth Civilization Network, and the Global Platform Freedom and Justice Alliance.

In the headlines and within the reports themselves, these five organizations have been described in various ways — as “international human rights organizations,” “global civil society,” or “Int’l human rights groups.”

In this report, The Dissent has attempted to examine who these five organizations actually are.

South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF) and Paulo Casaca

The first organization that signed the joint statement on Shahriar Kabir is the Belgium-based South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF). This institution is not widely recognized as an international human rights organization. Rather, the institution and its founder Paulo Casaca have faced allegations of working as hired agents in coordinated disinformation campaigns on behalf of governments in different countries.

According to the findings of “Indian Chronicles,” an investigative research report published in 2020 by the Europe-based research organization EU DisinfoLab, SADF operates with funding from India’s Srivastava Group. Casaca later acknowledged that SADF had received such funding.

The EU DisinfoLab report states that SADF was part of a coordinated propaganda network financed by the Srivastava Group on behalf of the Indian government, targeting Pakistan and China over a period of 15 years.

At the same time, SADF and its founder Paulo Casaca have for many years been associated with Bangladesh’s former ruling party, the Awami League.

As part of a disinformation campaign to legitimize the 2018 “night vote” election, Casaca and SADF were involved in bringing in so-called election observers, issuing statements describing the election as “free and fair,” and writing articles on little-known Brussels-based websites portraying the election as acceptable.

An investigative report published by Netra News in 2020 examined how Paulo Casaca worked on behalf of the Awami League during that period. The report was titled: “How a pro-India ‘disinformation’ group helped the Awami League government.”

Similarly, during the 2024 one-sided election, Casaca and SADF again appeared as election observers. After observing only four constituencies, they issued a statement declaring the election transparent and credible.

According to Netra News, in September 2020 Paulo Casaca, the executive director of SADF, delivered a speech at a birthday event for Sheikh Hasina organized by the Awami League.

European Bangladesh Forum (EBF) and Chris Blackburn

Another organization mentioned in the statement is the European Bangladesh Forum, which has also long-standing links with the Awami League.

The statement was also signed by Chris Blackburn, identified as the organization’s communications director. For nearly a decade, Blackburn has campaigned in favor of the Awami League on social media.

Online searches show that the European Bangladesh Forum’s Facebook page has not been updated since 2023, and the website listed on the page is inactive.

According to a report by BDNews24, in 2018 EBF organized a program in Geneva, Switzerland, on countering extremism. Among the speakers were EBF President Ahsan Ahmed Ullah and Siegfried O. Wolf, head of research at SADF. Photographs from the event also show Dr. Shammi Ahmed, the Awami League’s central secretary for international affairs, delivering remarks.

Chris Blackburn has been seen participating in several Awami League–related programs both before and after August 5.

In 2023, during a webinar titled “Success in Combating Terrorism in Bangladesh and its Implications for Security in the Region and Beyond,” Blackburn — describing himself as a U.K.-based political analyst — praised Sheikh Hasina for combating militancy and blamed BNP and Jamaat for terrorism and “Pakistanization.”

A Dhaka Tribune report quoting Blackburn wrote: “Blackburn also mentioned that Jamaat-BNP-led monopolized misinformation online has a real effect on the economy of Bangladesh, so both the European and American partners should come forward to fight the disinformation campaign against Bangladesh.

He further said: ‘Tarique Zia is a well-known symbol of violence. UK government is also keeping Bangladesh war criminals besides Tarique Zia. UK needs to have a solution to this problem other than kicking the problem down the road. Misinformation in social media is hurting Bangladesh both socio-economically and BNP knows it very well. However, BNP is continuing its campaigns of arson and disinformation.’”

On his X account, Blackburn regularly engages in activism in favor of the Awami League and frequently reposts content from the party’s official account as well as from other pro–Awami League accounts.

Freedom and Justice Alliance and ABM Nasir

A search for Freedom and Justice Alliance reveals only a Facebook page created in July of last year.

The page identifies itself as a nonprofit organization. Aside from several discussion videos about Shahriar Kabir, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the July–August events, little else appears on the page. No official website for the organization could be found.

Posts from the page have been shared by Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of Sheikh Hasina. Videos from programs organized by the group have also been uploaded on the Awami League’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Several videos on the Freedom and Justice Alliance page show a man named ABM Nasir hosting programs. The same ABM Nasir’s name appears in reports about the statement demanding Shahriar Kabir’s release.

Online searches indicate that he teaches at North Carolina Central University in the United States. Reports show that both before and after August 5 he signed several statements expressing support for the Awami League.

For example, in June 2023, six U.S. congressmen wrote to then–U.S. President Joe Biden, urging effective steps in response to the rapid deterioration of human rights in Bangladesh.

Soon afterward, 192 Bangladeshis working in the United States protested the letter in defense of the Awami League government. ABM Nasir was among the signatories.

In other words, although Nasir now issues statements in support of Shahriar Kabir’s human rights, he previously opposed American lawmakers who had spoken out about the worsening human rights situation in Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina’s rule.

In the same year, Nasir also signed a protest letter along with 196 pro–Awami League Bangladeshi-Americans criticizing a letter sent by Nobel laureates to Sheikh Hasina expressing concern over the case and harassment against Muhammad Yunus.

Working Group Bangladesh in Germany: Klaus Strempel and Sharaf Ahmed

Another organization mentioned in the statement is Working Group Bangladesh in Germany, which is also run by individuals of Bangladeshi origin aligned with the Awami League.

The organization is essentially a group of expatriate Bangladeshis in the German state of Lower Saxony, along with several members of the local German community. Its local-language name is Arbeitskreis Bangladesch in Niedersachsen (AKBiN).

Recently the group sent a letter to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer concerning issues including the demolition of the Dhanmondi 32 museum and the imprisonment of elderly freedom fighters.

At that time, the Awami League propaganda website BDDigest published the letter under the headline:

“European organizations write to the British prime minister: Call to avoid relations with the Yunus government.”

One active member of the group from the German community is Klaus Strempel. Another key figure is Sharaf Ahmed, a Bangladeshi who also serves as the Germany correspondent for Prothom Alo.

The Prothom Alo Report Was Written by Sharaf Ahmed

The report on the statement regarding Shahriar Kabir published in Prothom Alo appeared with the byline “Sharaf Ahmed (from Germany).”

Earlier in this report, Sharaf Ahmed’s involvement with the Working Group Bangladesh network in Germany has already been mentioned.

A 2009 interview published in The Daily Star, titled “A Better Image of Bangladesh,” described Sharaf Ahmed as an organizer involved in initiatives to promote Bangladesh’s positive image in Europe. The interview also noted his connection with the Working Group Bangladesh in Lower Saxony.

In 2011, news reports were also published in The Daily Star under Sharaf Ahmed’s byline.

Sharaf Ahmed has also worked on Bangladesh’s political history. He wrote a book titled “The Two Daughters of Bangabandhu: A Difficult Life in Exile,” which focuses on the exile of the two daughters of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.

In an interview with Bangla Tribune, Ahmed said he wrote the book based on extensive research into the circumstances of the Bangabandhu family in Germany at the time.

In a 2024 opinion column published in Prothom Alo, titled “How at Ganabhaban: ‘Coming, coming, writer Germany,’” Ahmed wrote that he spent about 35 minutes speaking with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban and presented her with his book “August 15 Massacre: The Difficult Days of Bangabandhu’s Two Daughters in Exile.”

Position in Favor of Human Rights Violations During Sheikh Hasina’s Rule

In June 2023, six members of the European Parliament sent a letter to Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, expressing concern about Bangladesh’s human rights situation and electoral environment.

In the letter, the lawmakers alleged that democratic space in Bangladesh had shrunk; elections had been marred by irregularities and manipulation; opposition politicians were facing repression; security forces had been accused of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings; the Digital Security Act had restricted freedom of expression; and minorities had been victims of violence. They called for international pressure to ensure free and fair elections.

Later, several expatriate Bangladeshis living in Europe sent a counter-letter opposing the criticism made by the European Parliament members.

Under the initiative Bangladesh Civil Society in Europe, a response letter was sent to Josep Borrell. It claimed that the allegations made by the European Parliament members were based on misinformation and were creating a negative image of Bangladesh internationally.

The letter argued that the criticisms by several members of the European Parliament were based on false information and highlighted Bangladesh’s development progress under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

More than 300 expatriate Bangladeshis, including scientists, lawyers, businesspeople, and cultural figures living in Europe, signed the letter. The list of signatories also included the name of Germany-based journalist Sharaf Ahmed.

Earth Civilization Network (Global Network) and Tarık Günersel

Another organization that signed the joint statement is the Earth Civilization Network.

The network is associated with the Turkish poet and playwright Tarık Günersel.

According to information on the organization’s website, Earth Civilization Network is essentially a voluntary global network that functions as a platform for communication among individuals and organizations working on human rights, peace, environmental protection, and global solidarity.

The network’s declaration states that it is not a conventional international institution; rather, it is a synergy platform or collaborative network of writers, human rights activists, researchers, and cultural figures from various countries.

According to the organization’s website, the list of individuals associated with its activities includes writers, poets, human rights activists, and cultural workers from different countries. That list also includes the name of Bangladeshi writer, filmmaker, and human rights activist Shahriar Kabir.

In other words, the network that issued the statement calling for Shahriar Kabir’s release also lists Shahriar Kabir himself as a participant in its activities.

For that reason, the Earth Civilization Network may be better described not as a formal international human rights organization but rather as a voluntary global network or platform.

Additionally, the organization’s founder Tarık Günersel participated in a YouTube discussion with Shahriar Kabir four years ago titled “Shahriar Kabir from Bangladesh on Secular Humanism – Tarık Günersel.”

The organization was also among those that sent a letter to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer concerning issues including the demolition of the Dhanmondi 32 museum and the imprisonment of elderly freedom fighters.

Statements in Support of Shahriar Kabir by the United Nations and Other International Organizations

Although the five organizations discussed above are not major international human rights organizations and have links with the Awami League, several recognized international bodies — including the United Nations — have previously issued statements calling for the release of writer Shahriar Kabir.

In November last year, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for Kabir’s swift release.

Similarly, last year Reporters Without Borders also raised the issue of Kabir’s arrest in a separate statement.

In addition, Amnesty International, in a statement issued in August 2025, urged the then interim government to release Kabir quickly, taking into account his age.